[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 112 (Friday, June 10, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35509-35512]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-12513]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Notice of Matching Fund Opportunity for Ocean and Coastal Mapping 
and Request for Partnership Proposals

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 
Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Announcement of matching fund program opportunity, request for 
proposals, and request for interest by September 30, 2022.

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SUMMARY: By establishing selection criteria and requirements for the 
NOAA Rear Admiral Richard T. Brennan Ocean Mapping Matching Fund 
program, to be known as the Brennan Matching Fund, this notice invites 
non-Federal entities to partner with NOAA National Ocean Service's 
ocean and coastal mapping programs on jointly funded projects of mutual 
interest. NOAA would receive and match partner funds and rely on its 
existing contract arrangements to conduct the surveying and mapping 
activities in FY2024. Proposers benefit from this opportunity by 
leveraging NOAA's contracting expertise, including its pool of pre-
qualified technical experts in surveying and mapping as well as data 
management to ensure that the mapping data are fit for purpose and are 
usable for a broad set of purposes. This program is subject to funding 
availability.

DATES: Proposals, including any optional GIS files of the proposed 
project areas, must be received via email by 5 p.m. ET on September 30, 
2022. If an entity is unable to apply for this particular opportunity, 
but has an interest in participating in similar, future opportunities, 
NOAA requests a one-page statement of interest, also by September 30, 
2022, to help gauge whether to offer the Brennan Matching Fund program 
in future years.

ADDRESSES: Proposals must be submitted via email to 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information 
should be directed to Meredith Westington or Paul Turner, NOAA 
Integrated Ocean and Coastal Mapping, at [email protected], or 
(505) 278-9851 and (302) 648-7612, respectively.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    NOAA's Office of Coast Survey (OCS) and National Geodetic Survey 
(NGS) are responsible for conducting hydrographic surveys and coastal 
mapping for safe navigation, the conservation and management of coastal 
and ocean resources, and emergency response. NOAA is committed to 
meeting these missions as collaboratively as possible, adhering to the 
Integrated Ocean and Coastal Mapping (IOCM) principle of ``Map Once, 
Use Many Times.''
    One of IOCM's strongest advocates, Rear Admiral Richard T. Brennan, 
developed an Ocean Mapping Plan for OCS in which IOCM plays a large 
role. Responsive to the June 2020 publications of the National Strategy 
for Mapping, Exploring, and Characterizing the U.S. Exclusive Economic 
Zone (NOMEC) and the Alaska Coastal Mapping Strategy (ACMS), the Coast 
Survey Ocean Mapping Plan includes a goal to map the full extent of 
waters subject to U.S. jurisdiction to modern standards (all three 
plans are available at https://iocm.noaa.gov/about/strategic-plans.html). Although we lost RDML Brennan tragically and unexpectedly 
in May 2021, we continue to implement his vision and passion for 
collaborative ocean mapping through this and other avenues.
    The Coast Survey Ocean Mapping Plan describes a number of 
motivating forces for surveying and mapping waters subject to U.S. 
jurisdiction, including, but not limited to:
     Safe marine transportation;
     Coastal community resilience;
     A need to better understand the influence of the ocean's 
composition on related physical and ecosystem processes that affect 
climate, weather, and coastal and marine resources and infrastructure;
     Interest in capitalizing on the Blue Economy in growth 
areas like seafood production, tourism and recreation, marine 
transportation, and ocean exploration;
     The national prerogative to exercise U.S. sovereign rights 
to explore, manage, and conserve natural resources in waters subject to 
U.S. jurisdiction; and
     International commitments to map the global oceans by 
2030.
    Knowledge of the depth, shape, and composition of the seafloor has 
far-reaching benefits, including safer navigation, hazard mitigation 
for coastal resilience, preservation of marine habitats and heritage, 
and a deeper understanding of natural resources for sustainable ocean 
economies. However, the resources needed to fully achieve the goal of 
comprehensively mapping U.S. oceans and coasts currently exceed NOAA's 
capacity. Mapping the full extent of waters subject to U.S. 
jurisdiction means relying on partners to contribute to the effort.
    Coast Survey has considerable hydrographic expertise, including 
cutting edge understanding of the science and related acoustic systems 
as well as data standards to ensure broad usability of that data. More 
detail on Coast Survey's surveying expertise and capabilities is 
available in the NOAA Coast Survey Ocean Mapping Capabilities report 
(https://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/about/docs/about/ocean-mapping-capabilities.pdf). Information on the Hydrographic Services Contract 
Vehicle and the types of data and services available can be found at 
https://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/data/hydrographic-surveys-contract-vehicle.html.
    The NOAA Coastal Mapping Program under NGS, responsible for 
updating the shoreline and nearshore bathymetry for application to NOAA 
Nautical Charts and other coastal applications, relies in part on its 
NGS Shoreline Mapping Services contract. This contract also supports 
additional NGS geodetic and surveying missions in support of the 
National Spatial Reference System and

[[Page 35510]]

the Aeronautical Survey Program (more information at https://geodesy.noaa.gov/ContractingOpportunities/).

II. Description

    This notice announces the Brennan Matching Fund, a program to match 
funds with NOAA for ocean and coastal survey and mapping partnerships 
using NOAA's geospatial contracting vehicles. NOAA will select 
proposals using the review process and criteria evaluation described in 
section IX of this notice.
    The goal of this program is to leverage NOAA and non-Federal 
partner funds to acquire more ocean and coastal mapping data collected 
by qualified contract surveyors during FY 2024. If appropriated funds 
are available, NOAA will provide up to 70 percent of the total project 
cost, with the selected entity providing at least 30 percent of the 
total project cost. For example, if a project costs $1,000,000, the 
selected entity must provide at least $300,000 and NOAA would provide 
up to $700,000. Additional funding for a project exceeding $1 million 
may be provided at NOAA's discretion, e.g., if the project aligns with 
a larger NOAA survey priority. NOAA will receive partner funds through 
memoranda of agreement using the authority granted to NOAA under the 
Coast and Geodetic Survey Act of 1947 to receive and expend funds for 
collaborative hydrographic surveys (33 U.S.C. 883e).
    In addition to matching partner funds, NOAA offers its expertise to 
manage survey planning, quality-assure all data and products, provide 
the data and products to the partners on an agreed-upon timeframe, and 
handle data submission to the National Centers for Environmental 
Information for archiving and public accessibility. All ocean and 
coastal data and related products resulting from this program will be 
available to the public to the greatest extent allowed by applicable 
laws.
    Specific value-added services NOAA will provide include:
     Assurance that the data are collected by qualified survey 
contractors to ensure broadest use and accessibility of the data;
     Project management and GIS-based task order planning, 
negotiation and award of necessary procurement contracts:
    [cir] Tailored to meet the interests of matching fund partners
    [cir] Managed on aerial, shipboard, and uncrewed vehicles;
     Managing survey compliance with applicable laws, such as 
the National Environmental Policy Act and National Historic 
Preservation Act;
     Data processing, quality assessment and review of all 
acquired hydrographic data; and
     Data management and stewardship through data archive at 
the National Centers for Environmental Information.
    Data acquisition collection methods include, but are not limited 
to:

 Multibeam Echosounder
 Side Scan Sonar
 Lidar (topographic, bathymetric, mobile)
 Subsurface and airborne feature investigations
 Sediment sampling

    Products acquired may include, but are not limited to:

 Bathymetric data (multibeam, single beam, lidar)
 Backscatter
 Water column (depth dependent)
 Side scan sonar imagery
 Feature detection reports
 Sensor/data corrections and calibrations (e.g., conductivity, 
temperature and depth casts, horizontal/vertical position uncertainty)
 Survey and control services, including the installation, 
operation, and removal of water level and Global Positioning System 
stations
 High-resolution topographic/bathymetric product generation
 A final project report

    More information on Coast Survey's Hydrographic Surveys 
Specifications and Deliverables publication can be found at https://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/publications/docs/standards-and-requirements/specs/HSSD_2022.pdf. More information on NGS Specifications and 
Deliverables can be found at https://geodesy.noaa.gov/ContractingOpportunities/cmp-sow-v15.pdf. These specifications are 
based in part on the International Hydrographic Organization's 
Standards for Hydrographic Surveys, Special Publication 44 (https://iho.int/uploads/user/pubs/standards/s-44/S-44_Edition_6.0.0_EN.pdf). 
Background information, questions and answers, and slides that 
potential applicants might find useful from the expired FY 2023 
matching fund program webinar are available at https://iocm.noaa.gov/planning/contracts-grants-agreements.html. Interested applicants may 
also contact NOAA by email at [email protected] for a rough order 
of magnitude cost estimation sheet to use in estimating acquisition 
costs for the matching program.
    If an entity is unable to apply for this particular opportunity but 
has an interest in participating in similar, future opportunities, NOAA 
requests a one-page statement of interest by September 30, 2022, to use 
in evaluating whether to offer the Brennan Matching Fund program in 
future years.

III. Areas of Focus

    For this opportunity, proposals will be considered that align with 
national priorities for climate and infrastructure, and the goals of 
the NOMEC, ACMS, the Coast Survey Ocean Mapping Plan (all available at 
https://iocm.noaa.gov/about/strategic-plans.html). Those goals include:
    1. Map the United States Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ): The goal is 
to completely map deep waters (> 40m) of the United States EEZ by 2030 
and shallower waters by 2040. Completing this goal will give the United 
States unprecedented and detailed information about the depth, shape, 
and composition of the seafloor of the United States EEZ (NOMEC Goal 
2).
    2. Expand Alaska Coastal Data Collection to Deliver the Priority 
Geospatial Products Stakeholders Require: Mapping the Alaska coast is 
challenging. However, using targeted and coordinated data collections 
will potentially reduce overall costs and improve the cost-to-benefit 
ratio of expanded mapping activities (ACMS Goal 2).
    3. Map the full extent of waters subject to U.S. jurisdiction to 
modern standards: Based on the January 2022 analysis of data holdings 
at NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information, 52 percent of 
waters subject to U.S. jurisdiction are unmapped (https://iocm.noaa.gov/seabed-2030-status.html). Acquiring the best available 
data in poorly surveyed and gap areas means working with partners to 
contribute to the effort. By sharing its mapping expertise with others, 
Coast Survey can build depth in the ocean and coastal mapping community 
to increase the quantity and quality of seafloor data acquired overall 
(Ocean Mapping Plan Goal 2).

IV. Proposal Eligibility

    This matching fund opportunity is available to non-Federal 
entities. Examples of non-Federal entities include state and local 
governments, tribal entities, universities, researchers and academia, 
the private sector, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and 
philanthropic partners. Qualifying proposals must demonstrate the 
ability to provide at least 30 percent of the funds needed for the 
proposed project, which must be transferred to NOAA by September 2023 
using a memorandum of agreement. A coalition of non-Federal

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entities may assemble funds for the match and submit a proposal 
jointly. Use of other Federal agency funds as part of the non-Federal 
entities' match funds will be considered on a case-by-case basis and 
only as authorized by applicable laws. In-kind contributions are 
welcome to strengthen the proposal, but do not count toward the match 
and are not required.

V. Deadlines and Process Dates

    All submissions, including the proposal in PDF format and any 
accompanying GIS files, must be emailed to [email protected]. 
Partner proposals are due by 5 p.m. ET on September 30, 2022 (see 
Section VIII. for details). Please include all required components of 
the proposal in one email. Incomplete and late submissions will not be 
considered.
     June 28, 2022: Informational Webinar at 2 p.m. ET; 
register at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5547610530319292942.
     September 14, 2022: Office hours opportunity for 
interested parties to validate their proposals with experts before 
submitting; register by emailing [email protected].
     September 30, 2022: Due date for proposals and statements 
of interest.
     November 1, 2022: NOAA issues its decisions on proposals 
(subject to the availability of appropriations).
     November 2022-January 2023: NOAA works with selected 
partners to develop memoranda of agreement to facilitate the transfer 
of funds from the non-Federal partner to NOAA.
     February 2023: NOAA finalizes the memoranda of agreement 
with partners.
     June-September 2023: Non-Federal partners transfer 
matching funds to NOAA; funds must be available to NOAA for contracting 
in October 2023.
     January-September 2024: NOAA issues task orders to its 
survey contractors for NOAA/partner projects in FY 2024.

VI. Funding Availability

    In the third year of this program, NOAA anticipates funding between 
two to five survey projects up to 70 percent, with a total cost of 
$1,000,000 per project. Additional funding for a project exceeding $1 
million may be provided at NOAA's discretion. All projects are expected 
to have a FY 2024 project start date and NOAA must receive all non-
Federal partner matching funds no later than September 2023. NOAA 
reserves the right to increase or decrease its funding match based on 
the quality and feasibility of proposals received. This notice is 
subject to the availability of appropriations.

VII. Project Period

    NOAA intends to complete each selected project within two (2) 
years. However, the period to complete a project may be extended in 
coordination with the partner(s), if additional time is needed. NOAA 
will submit a final report to the non-Federal partner within 60 days of 
the conclusion of each project.

VIII. Submission Requirements

    Project Proposal--To qualify, a proposal shall not exceed six (6) 
total pages and must include the following three components:
    1. A project title; executive summary (3-5 sentences); and the 
names, affiliations, and roles of the project partners and any co-
investigators, as well as the project lead that will serve as primary 
contact (1 page maximum).
    2. A justification and statement of need; description and graphics 
of the proposed survey area, including relevance to the strategic areas 
of focus noted in Section III and degree of flexibility on timing of 
survey effort (4 pages maximum).
    3. A project budget that lists the source(s) and amount(s) of 
funding that the partner would provide as its match to NOAA. Budget 
must confirm that partner funds can be transferred to NOAA by September 
2023 (1 page maximum).
    Proposals, as PDF format, must use 12-point, Times New Roman font, 
single spacing, and 1-inch margins. Failure to adhere to these 
requirements will result in the proposal being returned without review 
and eliminated from further consideration.
    To facilitate a more detailed review of the second component of the 
proposal, NOAA welcomes the submission of GIS files of project areas. 
These ancillary GIS files must be in SHP format.

IX. Review Process and Evaluation Criteria

    Proposals will be evaluated by the Brennan Matching Fund Program 
Management Team. Submissions will be ranked based on the following 
criteria:
    1. Project justification (30 points)--This criterion ascertains 
whether there is intrinsic IOCM value in the proposed work and/or 
relevance to NOAA missions and priorities, including downstream partner 
proposals and uses. Use of, and reference to, national priorities on 
climate and infrastructure, NOMEC, ACMS and the Coast Survey Ocean 
Mapping Plan (all available at https://iocm.noaa.gov/about/strategic-plans.html); gap assessment tools such as the U.S. Bathymetry Gap 
Analysis (https://iocm.noaa.gov/seabed-2030-bathymetry.html); and the 
U.S. Interagency Elevation Inventory (https://catalog.data.gov/dataset/united-states-interagency-elevation-inventory-usiei), among others, are 
recommended. The U.S. Mapping Coordination site (fedmap.seasketch.org) 
shows current Coast Survey and NGS mapping plans as well as the latest 
in Federal mapping priorities and select regional mapping priorities; 
email [email protected] for assistance with the layers on this 
site, if needed.
    2. Statement of need (10 points)--This criterion assesses clarity 
of project need, partner project funding alternatives if not selected, 
anticipated outcomes and public benefit.
    3. Specified partner match (20 points)--The proposal identifies a 
point of contact for the entity submitting the proposal, as well as any 
partnering entities, a clear statement on partner matching funds 
provenance (e.g., state appropriations, NGO funds, or other sources) 
and timing of funds availability. In-kind contributions are welcome to 
strengthen the proposal, but do not count toward the funding match and 
are not required.
    4. Project costs (15 points)--This criterion evaluates whether the 
proposed budget is realistic and commensurate with the proposed project 
needs and timeframe. If needed, please contact [email protected] 
for a rough estimate of cost per square nautical mile for surveys in a 
particular region.
    5. Project feasibility and flexibility (25 points)--This criterion 
assesses the likelihood that the proposal would succeed, using 
evaluations of survey conditions, project size, location, weather, NOAA 
analysis of environmental compliance implications, project flexibility 
and adaptability to existing NOAA plans and schedules, and other 
factors.
    During the proposal review period, NOAA reserves the right to 
engage with proposal points of contact to ask questions and provide 
feedback on project costs and feasibility.

X. Management and Oversight

    Once selections are made, NOAA will coordinate the development of 
the memoranda of agreement, funding transfers, project planning, 
environmental compliance, acquisition awards and quality assurance 
process. NOAA may bring in additional partners and/or funding (Federal 
and/or non-Federal) to expand a project further, if feasible. Projects 
will be reviewed by NOAA on an annual basis to ensure they are 
responsive to partner interests

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and NOAA mission requirements, and to identify opportunities for 
outreach and education on the societal benefits of the work.
    Authority: Coast and Geodetic Survey Act of 1947 (33 U.S.C. 883e).

RDML Benjamin K. Evans,
Director, Office of Coast Survey, National Ocean Service, National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 2022-12513 Filed 6-9-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-JE-P